Carrel Policy

Due to the covid-19 pandemic, carrel availability will be announced a week before the semester starts.  

• The Harold F. Johnson Library assigns carrels to students semester ­by­ semester.
• Priority is given to second­ semester Division III students. Since there are not enough carrels for all students, the library has developed an application process.
• Applications will be accepted the week before the start of the semester, and throughout the first week of classes. Hampshire College students can apply for a carrel by filling out an online form.
• Carrel space is limited, so we highly encourage you to find a carrel mate with whom you can share the space. If you are willing to share a carrel, but don’t have a carrel mate in mind, the library will facilitate a match.
• In assigning carrels, the library will give priority 1) to second­ semester Div III students, 2) to second ­semester Div III students willing to share carrels, and 3) to first­ semester Div III students willing to share carrels. In all three of these groups, students who have not previously had carrel access will be given priority over those who have already had carrels assigned to them.
• Recognizing that the number of carrels is so small, and that all students may want to use carrels, 10 carrels will remain unassigned and open for use by students on a first­ come, first ­served basis each day. You can use these carrels as they are open during library hours, on a first ­come, first­ served basis. Please do not store or leave items in the carrels, nor do anything to claim them beyond the duration of that day’s library visit.
• Hampshire items that are checked out and that have pink due slips may be left in assigned carrels, as well as checked out Five College items. You may ask at the InfoBar to get due slips for your checked out items. All other Hampshire items, including reference books and current periodicals, will be reshelved daily. We will occasionally spot­ check the assigned carrels to ensure that items are in fact checked out. Items that are not checked out will be reshelved.
• If you choose to leave personal or checked out items in carrels, please store them neatly on or under the carrel shelf. Items not stored in such a manner may be removed at the discretion of library staff. Please keep your carrel neat and do not leave trash or recyclables in the carrel. Carrels that become unsightly may be cleared at the discretion of the library staff.
• At the end of each semester, carrels are cleared completely.
• The responsibility for personal items and checked out library items remains yours. Leave them at your own risk. Do not leave laptops or other personal devices unattended in your carrel; thefts have been reported in the library.
• Assignment to a carrel is an agreement between the student and the library to observe good library conduct. Carrel holders agree to keep noise to a minimum and respect the needs of those around them. Social conversations and hangouts should move from the carrels to a more social space in the library, like the library’s first floor.